Sacred Settings
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2022 |
| Type | Appeared in Conference without Proceedings |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Description | Sacred Settings:This presentation will analyze concepts and construction of a sacred spaces within the field of Psychonautics. The latter term designates a movement which utilizes various psychotropic substances often termed entheogens to achieve altered states of consciousness comparable to mystical states. These are also used in combination with either traditional or syncretic meditative techniques. Psychonauts and other spiritually oriented psychedelic users have often underlined the importance of what is called Setting in the use of psychotropic substances. The purpose is to designate an area that will both protect the user and enhance the consciousness altering properties of the entheogens. Setting in this case takes the role of the sacred space where the trip will take place. Depending on the cultural background can be either in a room, outside in the woods or constructed with meaningful and archetypically spiritual symbols. Decorations, seating, covers, water, perfumes are all significant factors next to the presence of a guide to support the Psychonaut in times of stressful consciousness alteration. The relevance of the appropriate setting is perhaps most manifest in laboratory setting which is considered to be too cold for the full transcendental experience. Psychedelic users are proficient in substance dosage, harm reduction and setting organization which are geared to optimize the psychedelic experience. It is not surprising that psychedelic culture and aesthetics have had and continue to have a strong grip in multiple artistic and literary expressions. A final reflection for investigation will be on the fusion with Oneness, expansion of consciousness, the disgregation of reality and social barriers which occur frequently with the use of psychedelics. The question will be whether it is still possible to talk about a conceptual sacred space when perceptive and intellectual boundaries are dissolved. |
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